Combination hand-level and triangle.



PATENTED JUNE 25; 1907.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 7. 1905. 2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

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`WALTER TIIORBURN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

COMBINATION HAND-LEVEL AND TRIANGLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jane 25,1907.

` Application iled December 7, 1905. Serial No. 290.784.

T0 @ZZ whom t may con/cern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER THOEBURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washindton, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combination Hand- Level and Triangle; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art toy which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in surveying instruments, and particularly to a combination hand level and triangle.

The object of the invention is theI provision of means for facilitating the establishment of points at right-angles, with a predetermined line in front.

With this and other objects in view, the-invention consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter vfully described, illustrated in the vaccompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the czlaims hereto appended.

In the drawingsyFigure 1 is a perspective view of aninstrument constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on -line 2, 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view taken on line 3, 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional view taken on line 4, 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the removable telescoping frame. Fig. 6 5is a perspective view of the adjustable sectionof the mirror support. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the stationary section of the horizontal mirror su port. Fig. 8 is a rear view of the prism re ector support.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates an elongated or substantially rectangular, primary casing, which is provided with an integral, laterally extending portion 2, constituting `an auxiliary casing. The auxiliary casing 2 is formed upon the primary casing 1 at right-angles. The end of the primary casing 1 nearest to the auxiliary casing 2 is closed by means of a removable cap 3, which is provided with an aperture 4, constituting an eye or peep hole. The cap 3 is secured upon the front end of the primary casing by any suitable means, as for instance, screw 5, which will permit the removal'of said cap, when it is necessary.

Referring particularly to. Fig. 5, 6 designates a telescoping frame, which'issecured with the cap 3, registers with the similar aperture 4. Upon removing cap 3 from the primary casing, the frame 6 will be removed from within said casing. It is to be noted that the frame 6 fits snugly within theprimary casing 1, as the base plate 7 is of the same width as the distance between the two inner walls of the sides, and the height of the ends 8- andv 9 is the same as thedistance between the inner face of the upper and lower, horizontal portions of the casing 1. Therefore, it will be apparent that there will not be any lateral or vertical movement of the frame`6 within the primary casing 1. The top portion or plate 7 of the frame 6 is of greatest width at the front and is of varying width throughout its length, being the narrowest at the rear end, the end 9 being of the same width as the rear end of the top Owing to the comparatively small width of the rear end 9, said end does not obstruct the view of the operator of the instrument,when

looli'ng through the instrument lIn the bottom plate or portion 7 of the frame 6, a threaded aperture 11 is formed, which registers with aperture 12 of the stationary section 13 of the mirror supporting means, when said stationary section 1s in its normal. position upon the frame 6. Any suitable fastening means may be positioned within apertures 11 and 12 for aflixing the stationary section 13 to the bottom 7 of the frame 6. The section 13 is preferably prof vided with ay hollow body. The top 14 ofthe section is slitted longitudinally at 15, for permitting the shoulder 16 of the tenon 17 of the adjustable section 18 to be positioned therein. The tenon 17 is formed integral with the body 19 ofthe adjustable section 13.

At 20, the slitted portion 15 is reduced in width to form a vertical guide, within which the shank 21 of the adjusting screw22 is positioned. A collar 22a is fixed to the shank of thescrew 22.

IOO

The bottom of the body 19 of the adjustj IIO ment of the adjustable section 18 is obtained. The front, vertical face of the body 19 of the adjustable section is formed at an angle to the rear surface. The body 19 is provided with cut-out portions 23 and 24. A removable clamp 25 is secured within the vertical cut-out portion 23 by any suitable fastening means, as for instance, screws 26. A removable clamp 27 is secured to the cut-out portion 24, by means of a thumb-screw 28. A horizontal mirror 29 is secured between clamps 25 and 27. Between the front face or surface of the adjustable section and mirror 29, l preferably interpose a cushion 30 of any suitable material, as for instance, felt. By loosening the thumb-screw 28, the mirror 29 may be adjusted.

A removable, horizontal level 31 is secured to the top of the stationary section 13. The level 31 and bubble are placed on a somewhat higher plane than that of the reflecting surface, in order to detect the movement of said bubble when the instrument is placed to the eye. l

A vertical wire 32 extends through the auxiliary casing 2. The wire 32 is provided at one end (preferably the lower end) with a head, while its opposite end is wound around an adjusting screw 33. By means of screw 33, the wire 32 may be tightened for retaining said wire in a taut condition. A removable cap 34 is positioned upon the outer end of the auxiliary casing 2. The cap 34 is fixed to the casing 2 by means of a locking screw 35. A sheet of transparent material 36, preferably glass, is secured upon the outer end of the auxiliary casing 2, by means of said cap 34.

While the `level 31 is secured transversely of the primary casing, the level 37 is secured upon the top of the casing 1 longitudinally of the same. Positioned directly below the level 37 and secured within the casing 1 is a prism-supporting-block 38. This block is provided with extensions orilanged edges 39, which retain a prism reflector 40 in position upon the block 38. An extension 41 of the block 38 carries a screw 42, around which is wound a wire 43, the upper end of the wire 43 extending through the lateral extension 44 of block 38, and it will, therefore, be apparent that the vertical, primary wire 43 is supported upon parallel, lateral extensions 41 and 44 of the prism reflector supporting block 38. A removable, angular bracket 45 is secured at its lower end, by means of screw 46, to block 38. Carried by the upper end of the bracket 45 is a screw 47, around which is wound a horizontal wire 48. One end of the wire 48 is 'fixed to the block 38. The screws 42 and 47 are employed for tightening the vertical wire 43 and the horizontal wire 48,

' i respectively, for retaining said wires in a taut condition.

Ai-lremovablehcap 49Mis positioned upon the rear end of the primary casing 1, and is secured to said casing by means of a screw 50. The cap 49 is employed for a purpose similar to cap 34, to wit: the securing of a sheet of transparent material 51, preferably glass, 'i

upon the end of the casing.

In use, the operator simply holds the instrument to his eye by hand, or, if desired, it may be quickly adjusted to a tripod or j ackstaff, and looks through the registering apertures 4 and 11, at a predetermined point in front, the horizontal mirror 29 reflecting the objects at right-angles with the predetermined line directly in front of the operator, the side auxiliary wire 32 being adjusted to appear in the mirror 29 as a continuation of the primary, vertical wire 43. When the object at the side, shown in the horizontal mirror 29, appears directly in line with the vertical, primary wire 43, that point is directly at right-angles with the determined line in front of the operator. The horizontal wire 48 extends across the aperture in line with the reflected line under the upper level 37, thus aiding in determining an elevation, or in reading figures from the level rod in front. This instrument takes the place of both the common hand level and a triangle, as the wires crossing will always be on a level with the point ahead, if the bubble reflector is kept on the line, regardless of the position of the instrument, thus, the point at rightangles can be determined, even if higher or lower than the straight line being produced.

The lower level 31 is arranged for the purpose of producing lines ahead. It is the bubble which determines the horizontal position of the device, and in that' position, the vertical wire serves as a guide for erecting a rod perpendicularly at a distance. The instrument, together with a chain or a measuring appliance will readily enable the operator to determine points on any angle desired within an imaginary square. lt is particularly useful in platting a tractl of land into any size squares desired or in blocks, the operator moving along a determined line, sights ahead and side-wise at right-angles, while the chainmen drive stakes along each line synchronously. This instrument is likewise very useful in finding the radial lines of a circle or an arc, the circle having been rst established. Two or more points are located upon the circumference of a predetermined circle or arc. The center of a straight line connecting two of these points is determined by means of any suitable measuring device in co-operation with this instrument, the straight line being determined by locating the instrument at one point and sighting forward to the other. After the cen- IIS ter of the straight line connecting thetwo points has been located, the instrument is located at this point and the operator then sights forward or backward to one of the points determining the straight line, andthe line determined by the auxiliary casing, which line is at right-angles to the line determined by the tWo points, Will then bea 1 Widths, a top connecting said ends and taradial line passing through the center of the circle. The chainmen can then stake along this radial line, and the exact topography of the land Within the circle is readily determined. The cross Wires also perform the especial function of determining the true axis of the instrument, and by aid of the level bubble .15', the instrument can be tipped side-Wise to any degree to permit of the establishment of points on a different elevation.

l/Vhat I claim is:

l. In a device of the character described, the combination With a primary and an auxiliary casing, of a removable frarne positioned Within said primary casing, a reflector carried by said primary casing, Wires positioned Within said primary and vauxiliary casings, a level carried by said primary casing directly above said reilector, a horizontal mirror carried by said frame, and a level carried by said frame.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination With a casing, a level secured upon the outside of said casing, a reiiector positioned Within said casing beneath said level,i of a telescoping frame positioned Within said casing, and a transverse level supported upon said frame.

3. In' a device of the character described, the combination With a primary and an auxiliary casing, of a telescoping frame carried by said primary casing, said frame comprising a base or bottom plate of the same Width as the distance between the inner Walls of said casing, a front and a rear end of different pering throughout its length, a mirror and a level carried by said frame, Wires carried by said primary and auxiliary casings, a level carried by said primary casing, and a reilector carried by said primary casing beneath said last mentioned level.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination With a casing, of an adjustable mirror support carried by said casing, said support comprising a, stationary, holloW section slitted longitudinally throughout its length, a horizontally movable section provided With a tenon, the teno'n positioned Within the hollow portion of said stationary section, and, means for adjusting and securing said movable section in an adjusted position.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination With a primary casing, of a mirror supporting frame carried by said primary casing, said frame comprising a base or bottom, ends secured to said base, each end of different Widths, and a top connecting said ends and being of varying Width throughout its length.

In testimony whereof `I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

WALTER THORBURN.

Witnesses:

G. WARD KEMP, A. H. SGHUTT. 

